Free Press Summer Fest preview: Yppah

Electronic musician Yppah doesn’t play very often in Houston, but that doesn’t mean he’s not one of the city’s most hardworking musicians. Signed to noted label Ninja Tune Records, Yppah–aka Joe Corrales, Jr.–released his second album, They Know What Ghost Know, last year, and recently toured with Bonobo after performances during SXSW. He’s one of the tons of musicians performing at this year’s Free Press Summer Fest, so enjoy this rare opportunity.

You can read an interview I did with Yppah for Houston Calling‘s SXSW preview in March here. Here’s an excerpt:

HC: What do you consider to be your primary musical influences and how do they play into the music you make?

Yppah: I used to like Radiohead a lot, still do. I think they really shaped the way I arrange my music. The way their structure is always ever changing through out certain songs. I also listen to a ton of shoegaze-leaning music, whether it be electronic or like early 90s indie rock/psych type bands, or anything break/beat oriented. I pretty much just try to combine those styles to get what eventually comes out of my headphones/speakers.

HC: Do you play locally very often? I just recently came across your music and wondered why I hadn’t know about you before. Or maybe I had and it slipped my mind… If not, why?

Yppah: Nah, you’re right. I don’t usually play in Houston. It’s hard to get a decent turn out here for the style of music I do. On top of that I haven’t been played that many live band shows since I started the live band. That’ll change this year though. We plan on playing out way more in 2010 than we ever have before.